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Bonifacio injures rib cage, status in question

6/12/14: Emilio Bonifacio leaves the game after injuring his rib cage while swinging the bat in the 1st inning

By Carrie Muskat
/
MLB.com |

PITTSBURGH -- Cubs leadoff batter Emilio Bonifacio may be headed to the disabled list after suffering a right rib cage injury on Thursday.

The team did not expect to know the extent of the injury until Bonifacio is examined in Chicago on Friday. Bonifacio was not available after Thursday's game, a 4-0 loss to the Pirates. The Cubs were headed to Philadelphia for a three-game series starting on Friday.

On the second pitch of the game, Bonifacio grounded out to short, but he never left the batter's box. As he swung, he fell to the ground, grimacing in pain. Head athletic trainer PJ Mainville had to support Bonifacio as he limped off the field.

Cubs manager Rick Renteria said he did not get a chance to talk to Bonifacio before he left, and did not know the severity of the injury.

Junior Lake switched from left to center to fill in for Bonifacio, and Chris Coghlan came off the bench to play left. The Cubs have been carrying an extra pitcher, and playing shorthanded as far as position players go.

Bonifacio is 1-for-11 in his last four games, but he's been the most versatile player on the Cubs, starting 36 games in center, 19 at second, and one at third. He batted .337 in the first month of the season, but has cooled off since, hitting .222 in 10 games this month.

Outfielder Ryan Sweeney, who has been on the disabled list since May 3 with a right hamstring strain, was scheduled to make a rehab start Thursday for Class A Kane County but was scratched from the Cougars' lineup. He could be headed to Philadelphia to join the big league team. Sweeney batted .200 in 20 games before he was injured.